Special Olympics Passion Plunge
It’s Februaray, it’s 23 degrees outside in the heart of Massachusetts and a great day for a quick swim in Indian Lake. At first glance you would think the 76 people that took this dip were just nuts! Why would anyone in their right mind do that to themselves and the only logical reason is because they are simply just nuts? Nuts about the local kids that participate in the Special Olympics.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
76 take plunge for fundraiser
By Thomas Caywood TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
WORCESTER— Tom “Smitty” Smith of Auburn stood bundled up on the frozen surface of Indian Lake yesterday afternoon, watching as the Worcester Fire Department Dive Team cut an opening in the 13-inch-thick ice with chain saws.
Mr. Smith said he had no intention of leaping into the slushy, frigid water for the Special Olympics Passion Plunge fundraiser, but he was pleased to see that lots of others with less sense came out to do so.
His 15-year-old son, Peter, is a Special Olympics athlete who competes in swimming and cycling events.
“I’m very thankful for all these people here,” Mr. Smith said.
The coach of the Special Olympics team on which his son competes, Greg M. Engvall, was standing nearby and offered, “I’ve got an extra suit in case he changes his mind.”
“I hope it’s a wet suit,” Mr. Smith shot back.
Mr. Engvall, wearing a tall white chef’s hat, said his team of some 50 Special Olympics participants simply couldn’t afford uniforms, training facilities and travel expenses without the annual fundraiser held each winter in four locations around the state. He estimated the team’s expenses add up to more than $5,000 a year.
“Because our team keeps growing, our expenses keep going up, but, fortunately, the number of plungers we have today is more than ever,” he said. - Worcester Telegram & Gazette
One thing I’m sure of, as much as I love what the Special Olympics is about, I would rather be a donor to the cause than a participant in the February swim fund raiser. God bless the brave souls that took the dive. It is literally chilling me to the bone just thinking about it. Check the
article out from the T&G for more great pictures.
If you are up for it you can still register for the 2008 campaign at Massachusetts Special Olympics Passion Plunge. Plungers or Chickens, all are welcome!
Papamoka
Feel free to link to this post or borrow it…
Technorati Tags:
Special Olympics, Athlete, Down Syndrome, Birth defects, Fund Raiser, L Street Brownies, Friars, Polar Bear, passion plunge, Worcester Passion Plunge, Worcester Telegram, Thomas Caywood
Sunday, February 17, 2008
76 take plunge for fundraiser
By Thomas Caywood TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
WORCESTER— Tom “Smitty” Smith of Auburn stood bundled up on the frozen surface of Indian Lake yesterday afternoon, watching as the Worcester Fire Department Dive Team cut an opening in the 13-inch-thick ice with chain saws.
Mr. Smith said he had no intention of leaping into the slushy, frigid water for the Special Olympics Passion Plunge fundraiser, but he was pleased to see that lots of others with less sense came out to do so.
His 15-year-old son, Peter, is a Special Olympics athlete who competes in swimming and cycling events.
“I’m very thankful for all these people here,” Mr. Smith said.
The coach of the Special Olympics team on which his son competes, Greg M. Engvall, was standing nearby and offered, “I’ve got an extra suit in case he changes his mind.”
“I hope it’s a wet suit,” Mr. Smith shot back.
Mr. Engvall, wearing a tall white chef’s hat, said his team of some 50 Special Olympics participants simply couldn’t afford uniforms, training facilities and travel expenses without the annual fundraiser held each winter in four locations around the state. He estimated the team’s expenses add up to more than $5,000 a year.
“Because our team keeps growing, our expenses keep going up, but, fortunately, the number of plungers we have today is more than ever,” he said. - Worcester Telegram & Gazette
One thing I’m sure of, as much as I love what the Special Olympics is about, I would rather be a donor to the cause than a participant in the February swim fund raiser. God bless the brave souls that took the dive. It is literally chilling me to the bone just thinking about it. Check the
article out from the T&G for more great pictures.If you are up for it you can still register for the 2008 campaign at Massachusetts Special Olympics Passion Plunge. Plungers or Chickens, all are welcome!
Papamoka
Feel free to link to this post or borrow it…
Technorati Tags:
Special Olympics, Athlete, Down Syndrome, Birth defects, Fund Raiser, L Street Brownies, Friars, Polar Bear, passion plunge, Worcester Passion Plunge, Worcester Telegram, Thomas Caywood
Labels: Athlete, Birth defects, Down Syndrome, Friars, Fund Raiser, L Street Brownies, passion plunge, Polar Bear, Special Olympics, Thomas Caywood, Worcester Passion Plunge, Worcester Telegram
posted by Papamoka at
3:15 PM
2 Comments:
I'd plunge daily for the Special Olympics! My neice Amelia has OI, brittle, glass bones, and she is the joy in my life above all others!
Great post!
Peace...
We will just have to put you down for a plunger then Poetryman! Put me down as a chicken but one that can write a check...lol!
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